Picked up this Essential awhile back from a nice comic book shop in Aurora, CO. I'm REALLY enjoying this, especially when it gets to the Sienkiewicz issues! Man, that kid could draw! He's not a kid anymore, but he can still draw (though it's debatable whether his more modern expressionist style is "better" than his "old stuff")

The stories are really interesting done-in-one tales and the supporting cast is stellar. Can't wait till they put out a second volume of this!

This brings up another point: Is it just me, or do artists get more abstract as their careers get longer? It's not a hard-and-fast rule, but look at Bill S. Look at Frank Miller, and John Paul Leon. Weird, isn't it?

Charles Schulz attributed it to hands getting shakier.

Kirby's forms got more abstract, but his lines were clearer. Maybe that was just inking.

I think it's cause many good artists start out aping another style, and when they strike out on their own, the result isn't always palatable (though it's probably more satisfying to the artist, who, let's face it, is drawing for himself and not the fans).

Though I could have done without another Frank Miller drawing with huge feet, lips and breasts.

So, in other words, their old stuff is better.

Maybe it's more that "the guy they were aping is better."

I loooooooooove that Essential volume. Of all the volumes I've got, I think it is the single-best one, and I would definitely grab up any other Moon Knight ones they put out.

I had never really noticed how the Handbook listing of MK doesn't even mention him ever having super-strength - between that and his unstable personality, it is very easy to see how all that was in his mind the whole time.

Hey -- Miller was just aping Infantino in that Batgirl picture. You can tell by the banana breast.

Some artists gain skill as they go along, so their style changes as they get better. Others just open their eyes to new possibilities and a different perspective brings a new style. But it seems to me a great many artists have to adopt a mainstream style in order to gain acceptance, then once they are established they begin to let their own style show up more.

Would it be unWan of me to say that I really don't like Frank Miller's artistic "style"?

Well, I guess it's too late now...

I liked it when Bill was channelling Neal Adams. When his art got weird, I lost interest.

Allan - im the opposite I did not like his Neal Adams phase..but i liked it when he got weird!:)

Im really digging the new Moon Knight series from Huston...really hardcore stuff...

I'm so out of touch... I had no idea this came out.

I think I know what I may be using that Father's Day discount from B&N on......

Most artists I know (and I 'll include myself although I'm no longer a professional) are on a never-ending quest to draw as much as possible with as few lines as possible. This leads to a reduced need for details and , well, most fans like details.